Cactus identification

[Barrason]

It’s a very small cactus, I’m thinking it’s some kind of mammillaria maybe?

[anttisepp]

Mammillaria gracilis v. fragilis

[Tom in Tucson]

Mammillaria gracilis v. fragilis

[Barrason]

Yes that does indeed look like what I have!

[jerrytheplater]

This post just taught me something I never knew before. I noticed the blooms in the photos. I've been wondering why my M. gracilis has never bloomed. Looks like I might have a blooming plant and never knew how small the flowers are. Thanks for posting Barrason!!

[loyall]

Jerry, I don't see any blossoms on Barrason's photos. Is perhaps what you are seeing is the small offsets beginning. I have the same plant and I have similar offsets starting, but no blossoms yet. You can see a photo of the blossoms here on Cacti guide if you look up its alternate name M. vetula gracilis.

[jerrytheplater]

Jerry, I don't see any blossoms on Barrason's photos. Is perhaps what you are seeing is the small offsets beginning. I have the same plant and I have similar offsets starting, but no blossoms yet. You can see a photo of the blossoms here on Cacti guide if you look up its alternate name M. vetula gracilis.

Well, I stand corrected. Thanks loyall for correcting me. You are right. I just looked at Llifle and saw the flowers. I "saw" what looked like white miniature flowers underneath the spines.

[nachtkrabb]

(...) I've been wondering why my M. gracilis has never bloomed. (...)

Hallo Jerry,
I am wondering with you as my plant doesn't flower, too, although it is a big, old clump by now with over 6years old. The mother plant was a good flowerer, although I think either in winter or early spring. I got mine as a cutling.
This might be interesting for you, Barrason, too, as that would give your tiny plant a good start.
Is it possible that they need extra-much light beginning end of winter...? Or...?
Anybody any idea?
Thanks
N.

[jerrytheplater]

(...) I've been wondering why my M. gracilis has never bloomed. (...)

Hallo Jerry,
I am wondering with you as my plant doesn't flower, too, although it is a big, old clump by now with over 6years old. The mother plant was a good flowerer, although I think either in winter or early spring. I got mine as a cutling.
This might be interesting for you, Barrason, too, as that would give your tiny plant a good start.
Is it possible that they need extra-much light beginning end of winter...? Or...?
Anybody any idea?
Thanks
N.

Hi Nachtkrabb or N.

I stored my M. gracilis at my friends barely heated greenhouse last winter. Min temps were about 35-40 F (2-4 C). The sun heats the greenhouse more than you'd think. Not sure of the max temp in January.

The plants got very bright light, but not direct sun as they were stored with some of my friends pet plants, like banana and some palms. Some shade was unavoidable.

Here is my plant in October last year. The pot is 4" (10.2 cm) in diameter.

rsz 2022-10-11 Mamm gracilis 1.jpg (125.96 KiB) Viewed 1042 times

[nachtkrabb]

Hi Nachtkrabb or N.

I stored my M. gracilis at my friends barely heated greenhouse last winter. Min temps were about 35-40 F (2-4 C). The sun heats the greenhouse more than you'd think. Not sure of the max temp in January.

The plants got very bright light, but not direct sun as they were stored with some of my friends pet plants, like banana and some palms. Some shade was unavoidable.

Here is my plant in October last year. The pot is 4" (10.2 cm) in diameter.
rsz 2022-10-11 Mamm gracilis 1.jpg

Hi Jerry, your plant for sure does look great. So in winter, yours get loads more light than mine. But it still doesn't flower, you said? What a pity...

I've got mine from a friend who kept them in a kind of dining hall in an attic during winter, which of course had to be heated, although not all through the day. They stood in the attic windows with the Northern sky above them. And they flowered on a regular basis!
So maybe I should bring my plant to my barely heated bedroom with south facing windows & try that?
Nachtkrabb

(Sorry, I am sometimes just too lazy to write my full alias, although I prefer somehow to "sign" my posts. I am quite oldfashioned, you know. )

[anttisepp]

I had this species in my childhood and as I remember usually it flowers in winter-early spring.

[nachtkrabb]

I had this species in my childhood and as I remember usually it flowers in winter-early spring.

Hello anttisepp,
do you also remember how you trated your plant? Insiede / outside in summer, much / little sun, in winter cool / medium / warm & with much / little sun...? Water, fertilizer...?
Thanks
Nachtkrabb

[jerrytheplater]

I had this species in my childhood and as I remember usually it flowers in winter-early spring.

Ah, good information. I am not there with the plants at that time. But, I have not seen any dead flowers on the plant either. I'll have to visit more this coming dormant period.

[anttisepp]

how you trated your plant? Insiede / outside in summer, much / little sun, in winter cool / medium / warm & with much / little sun...? Water, fertilizer...?

Of cause I clear remember that it was very modest plant standing on cool winter window in winter and outside in a small greenhouse outside in summer and receaving water and fertilizers as all other cacti. It needs much sun, in other way elongated stems with poor spination will not bring much joy to its owner. As I know it is very popular and usual plant from 70-es and was common partner of echinopsis and mammillaria wildii on the windows.

[nachtkrabb]

Of cause I clear remember that it was very modest plant standing on cool winter window in winter and outside in a small greenhouse outside in summer and receaving water and fertilizers as all other cacti. It needs much sun, in other way elongated stems with poor spination will not bring much joy to its owner. (...)

Thank you very much, anttisepp. Then I simply do not understand my plant... Well, come time, come flower.
N.